[The indications for operative revascularization of acute and chronic renal artery embolism (author's transl)].

Renal artery embolism, which in our patients accounts for 0.4% of all arterial emboli and 6.5% of all operations on the renal arteries, demands rapid diagnosis and immediate operative revascularization. Three of our own cases of complete renal artery embolism which were successfully operated on and 5 with total chronic embolism of the renal arteries, also successfully operated, verify this indication. The importance of the collateral circulation in complete embolism of the renal artery for the maintenance of the organ is pointed out. This collateral circulation can prolong the revival time of the organ so that surgical restoration of the flow can be successful even after a long time. Intraoperative renal biopsy permits the prognosis to be assessed.